Raiders giving Texans washout Sam Montgomery a chance

When a team gives up on a high draft pick as a rookie, there’s usually a good reason.

But when a player is picked highly, there’s usually a reason for that too, and he gets more chances.

The Raiders have apparently signed former Texans outside linebacker Sam Montgomery, per a tweet from his agent.

The Texans released the third-round pick (95th overall) in October, which was the latest in a long line of authority figures having problems with him. The release was reportedly for smoking marijuana the night before a game, though Montgomery denied smoking, saying he merely walked into a room where others were.

He showed up out of shape for his rookie training camp, after admitting he didn’t always play with great effort at LSU, where the strength coach had to shame him into attending workouts.

He was a productive player at LSU, with 32.5 tackles for loss and 19.0 sacks. That’s going to make teams take notice, and the Raiders are playing to an old stereotype by giving him a look (after the Bengals worked him out this fall).

See if he does the necessary work during the offseason and cut him before the preseason gets rolling if he slacks off. He should be talented enough to provide some depth and play special teams.

As usual, teams like the Patriots or Broncos get lauded with praise when they take a guy like this but no such love for the Raiders. Fact is, no team has such a magical system or great coaches to make these prospects pan out every time. It comes down to Montgomery now.

Montgomery admitted he was a slacker at LSU. Took plays off and took opponents off. Can’t do that in the NFL. He gets another chance to prove he can do the work and not slack off. He has a great talent, but the work ethic is now in question.

I hope Sam will now do something he has not done in years, maybe ever….work.

As usual, teams like the Patriots or Broncos get lauded with praise when they take a guy like this but no such love for the Raiders. Fact is, no team has such a magical system or great coaches to make these prospects pan out every time. It comes down to Montgomery now.

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You think this is a surprise? They get lauded for such efforts because they tend to do it better than the other teams. The Raiders have proven that not only can they not do that, but they can’t even evaluate, sign and develop their own original talent.

Its ok for Belicheck to follow Al’s montra, but not RM? I like the fact that the we can give a guy another chance who has made mistakes. Nobody is perfect and we all have asked for a second chance and proved and some dont. Welcome to life!

Its ok for Belicheck to follow Al’s montra, but not RM? I like the fact that the we can give a guy another chance who has made mistakes. Nobody is perfect and we all have asked for a second chance and proved and some dont. Welcome to life!

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Objectively, Belichick (don’t forget that “i”) isn’t folling Al Davis. He’s established a superior method for finding and developing good talent, on the cheap. And I’m saying this as quite the non-Patriot-fan. Al Davis had some success, early on in his career, as a talent evaluator. But he never progressed, to match the evolution of the game. That’s why, in his declining years, the Raiders game-play on the field so totally matched Davis’ health. Both were not well.

Unfortunately, the early signs from the new regimen are not good, as evidenced by the side-show that is the Raiders’ quarterback position.

So, you need to separate the results, from your emotions. Franchises like the Patriots, Broncos, and Ravens and (more recently) Seahawks, are proving that they know how to make steak out of hamburger meat. When the Raiders can turn their ship around, maybe they can do the same. But right now, the facts entirely prove otherwise.

If I’m wrong, then some of you who voted thumbs down, why don’t you outline which players the Raiders have developed into successful franchise players, in the last decade. Maybe I’m missing someone?